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Smart Buildings – Networked buildings with a future

Modern buildings should be safe and comfortable to use and control and consume as little energy as possible. These demands can be met with automation and intelligent networking of the technical equipment. Building networking is the largest growth market in the construction industry.

Buildings become safer, more comfortable and more energy-efficient

What constitutes a ‘smart’ building? Simply putting in a lot of ‘smart’ electronics for technical operation isn’t really enough. A building becomes truly intelligent only when all components work together in a coordinated way – across all manufacturers, centrally and easily operated. In fact, this applies to all product groups: lighting, heating, air conditioning, shading, ventilation and safety technology as well as door and window technology.

Thanks to their automated, networked building technology, Smart Buildings adapt dynamically both to the environment and to user behaviour. This makes them safer, more comfortable and more energy-efficient.

Communication via networks in Smart Building

The technical systems interact via modern electronic network communication. The programme for companies with respect to technical building equipment and building automation provides customers with both proprietary (manufacturer's own) as well as open systems. Open systems (e.g. BACnet, KNX, LON, SMI, DALI) are supported by many manufacturers: their components are thus ‘interoperable’ and can communicate with each other in a system.

What is ’Smart Building’?

Smart Building describes the automation and central operation of the technical equipment of functional buildings such as office buildings, airports, shopping centres or production halls. Core topics are the safety of the building – e.g. by fire alarm technology or dynamic escape route planning – as well as the energetic optimisation of the building operation, which saves operating costs on a large scale.

The electrical industry supplies Smart Buildings with numerous innovative products and solutions that have already been tested and are common in new buildings. The field of energy efficiency in particular has already achieved great success: energy consumption in an office building can now be reduced by up to 30% through automation. (Source: ZVEI, Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V., Frankfurt, 2018)

Doors and windows also play their part

Smart ventilation: GEZE window drives, integrated in a KNX building system

Smart ventilation: GEZE window drives, integrated in a KNX building system

Doors and windows are now also multifunctional, intelligent and networked. Because they have to fulfil many different functions: ensure accessibility, provide natural ventilation and ward off burglars. In addition, in the event of fire or panic, they must open escape and rescue routes, at the same time permit controlled access, ensure smoke and heat extraction and protect against fire.

GEZE offers KNX and BACnet interface modules as well as a building automation system for the integration of GEZE products in networking solutions. It allows automated GEZE products from the fields of door, window and safety technology to be monitored precisely and operated reliably. This enables the complete ‘intelligence’ of the products to be integrated into the building network: for example, setting the opening width of a door or opening and closing a window depending on the outside temperature in conjunction with temperature sensors and heating systems.

Go to GEZE networking solutions

GEZE IQ box KNX – The specialist for natural ventilation

The GEZE IQ box KNX interface module is particularly suitable for implementing flexible solutions for natural ventilation in smaller buildings. The IQ box KNX enables the direct integration of the window drives of the GEZE IQ windowdrive series into KNX building systems. This facilitates dialogue with other KNX-capable components, such as push buttons and sensors. The IQ box KNX is easy to install, can be flexibly adapted to building use and can be combined with the entire KNX product world.

In schools, for example, building automation with the GEZE IQ box KNX ensures better air quality and energy efficiency through controlled, automatic ventilation. In the event of air deterioration during lessons, the windows open automatically (and close again). Night-time back cooling in summer ensures that the classrooms are cool in the morning. A sensor measures the inside and outside temperature and opens the windows at night when the outside temperature is cooler and closes them again automatically when the temperature is reached.

GEZE IQ box KNX product features

  • open windows to any desired position (in %)
  • reliable status report from any automated window (window open/closed/% of opening or drive state such as, e.g. malfunctions)
  • integrated ventilation functions turn the IQ box KNX into a small ventilation centre (time ventilation, gap ventilation, automatic closing and locking in the event of rain or wind alarm, with activated air conditioning)
  • dialogue with other KNX-capable components such as push buttons and sensors

Smart Building and Smart Home

A Smart Home helps to save costs. Professional initial installation in a two bedroom home costs between 800 and 4,000 euro - with a potential energy saving of around 20 per cent.

Smart home technologies are a growing market. © Exorbitart / GEZE GmbH

Smart Building Systems are not only used in office and industry buildings, hotels or hospitals, however. There is also growing interest in automation technology for homes. ‘Smart Homes’ are those where the power supply and consumption controls are networked with household devices and lighting.

Home networks with entertainment electronics, monitoring and safety systems, blinds, window and door closer systems can also be connected. These functions can be adapted to the individual needs of users and therefore ensure increased comfort. They also help to save costs and to save on resources.

More about Smart Building

GEZE BACnet interface module

With the GEZE interface module, GEZE networks products from the areas of door systems, emergency exit protection, window technology and RWA (smoke and heat extraction) as well as safety technology in buildings. The smart module is suitable for fast, simple and standardised integration into networking solutions with BACnet. The interface module enables the central visualisation and control of all automatic door systems via the building management system.

BACnet solutions for multifunctional door systems: During the day a barrier-free automatic door – during the night a secure emergency exit. The TZ 320 door control unit controls and monitors automatic products such as the Powerturn swing door drive and enables integration into the building management system via the interface module, thus enabling the door system to be controlled centrally via BACnet. If necessary, a different mode of operation can be quickly set and the door can be monitored remotely – including the receipt of possible fault reports.

GEZE interface module product features

The new interface module allows GEZE products in the fields of automatic door systems, window technology and RWA (smoke and heat extraction) as well as safety technology to be integrated into buildings via the BACnet communication standard.

The next generation of networking

© GEZE GmbH

GEZE window and door drives can be integrated into a building automation system via open interfaces © GEZE GmbH

With myGEZE Control, we bridge the gap in building automation with a smart solution for networking door, window and safety systems. The myGEZE Control connectivity platform with modular software and open interfaces heralds completely new approaches to building automation for planners and operators everywhere.

  • For greater efficiency, safety and comfort
  • For dynamic safety and fire protection concepts, intelligent smoke and heat extraction and the targeted release of escape routes
  • For more networking options

The central device is a standard control unit (PLC). The hardware components consist of an embedded PC control system that has a certified BACnet communication interface. myGEZE Control can be integrated into building management system, danger management and CAFM systems from any manufacturer. In addition, stand-alone visualisation solutions for GEZE product systems are made possible by the myGEZE Visu software option. The advantages of the new platform: Automated processes and central monitoring make the system easier, more comfortable and safer to use – while also enabling energy-efficient operation of the entire building. So you have complete control!

More about myGEZE Control

Smart planning

myGEZE Control​​​​​​​ simplifies the integration of door, window and safety technology for you as planners and specialists in technical building equipment. More building automation functions can be included. GEZE standardised networking components and customised project support ensure planning reliability. myGEZE Control is an attractive solution for manufacturers of building management systems and system integrators.

Benefits of myGEZE Control

  • Planning certainty
  • Expansion of the portfolio
  • Extended functionality

GEZE provides support when determining individual needs in line with your applications.

Smooth and interdisciplinary action

The BACnet open communication protocol enables smooth and interdisciplinary operations. The myGEZE Control networking solution integrates the areas of door, window and safety technology into all areas of a building management system. Because of this, automated processes in the building and central monitoring make using the property more convenient and safer.

Benefits of myGEZE Control

  • Efficiency in the building phase
  • Rapid response in the event of failure
  • Flexibility in the event of changes to plans


GEZE supports you in your planning, installation and commissioning

Planning:

  • Project planning for your myGEZE Control solution
  • Preparation of all necessary documents (cable and wiring plans, EDE files, etc.)
  • Configuration of necessary components

Installation:

  • Connection of components and hardware
  • Product networking
  • Connection to the building management system

Commissioning:

  • myGEZE Control configuration
  • Customisation of your operating interface
  • Ensuring proper operation

Smart operation

myGEZE Control unit enables the operators of a building to make significant financial savings while at the same time improving the safety of the building and the people inside it. We create standardised BACnet project developments that can be used independent of the service provider or building management product used. This makes it possible to implement them in building management, danger management and CAFM systems from any manufacturer. GEZE supports you through all phases of the building life cycle, starting with early planning to comprehensive project management and commissioning, as well as maintenance and support in building operations.

Benefits of myGEZE Control

  • Comfort
  • Safety
  • Efficiency in building operation

Benefits for the operator:

  • monitoring provides ongoing transparency in building operations
  • derive valuable information from the data generated to promote efficient building operation
  • emergency exit system monitoring tracks the status at all times, increasing safety through immediate intervention
  • location-independent operation of automatic doors provides additional comfort and increases efficiency

GEZE also takes over:

  • maintenance and updates of hardware and software components from a single source
  • ongoing optimisation in building operation